Maque Choux With Tasso Ham Recipes

TASSO MAQUE CHOUX

Steps:

• In a large saute pan, over medium heat, add the oil. When the oil is hot, add the Tasso and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the corn, onions and bell peppers. Season with salt and cayenne pepper. Saute for about 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the corn is tender. Add the cream, stir, and remove from the heat.

MAQUE CHOUX

Steps:

• Working with 1 corn cob at a time, set the ear of corn upright in a medium bowl. Shave the corn from the cob by slicing down the sides using the tip of a sharp chef's knife, holding the knife almost vertical. (This gives you neat tablets of corn that land squarely in the bowl and keeps the kernels from scattering all over the counter.) Using the back of the knife, scrape each cob to release all the nibs and the "milk" of the kernels into the bowl. Repeat with remaining ears of corn, then snap the cobs in half, and add them to the bowl.
• In a large, deep sauté pan, melt 3 tablespoons butter over medium heat until foaming. Add onion and celery, and season with 1 or 2 pinches of kosher salt. Stir constantly until softened and translucent but not browned, about 5 minutes.
• Add 2 tablespoons butter and the bell pepper, poblano and serrano, and stir constantly, adding another pinch of kosher salt, letting the butter melt and the peppers soften and become translucent, about 2 or 3 minutes. You will smell the peppers' sweetness and their mild capsaicin releasing.
• Add the final 3 tablespoons butter and the corn mixture from the bowl, cobs included, and another pinch of kosher salt. Stir constantly to coat with the butter and combine thoroughly.
• When everything starts to hiss and sound hot, but isn't cooking so hard as to take color, add 1/2 cup water and a healthy few grinds of black pepper, and cover the pan for a couple of minutes to steam/shallow braise the mixture.
• Remove the lid, and stir well, noticing the corn releasing its liquid and the kernels softening, and the cobs turning somewhat translucent, if however vague. You will notice a general softening and melding together. Return the lid, and let cook a few more minutes, noticing the water evaporating and the remaining liquid reducing and gaining some "body" and gloss. Discard the corn cobs, but do suck them before tossing - those buttery juices make a nice cook's treat.
• Taste for salt, and serve. It should be sweet, spicy, a bit wet and surprisingly complex, given the few ingredients and their ordinariness. If you want a smoky taste, add a good pinch of smoked paprika.

CORN AND TASSO MAQUE CHOUX

Steps:

• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Brush 1 ear of corn with oil, then sprinkle with coarse salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Grill corn until cooked through and slightly charred, turning occasionally, about 14 minutes. Set grilled corn aside.
• Cut kernels off 3 remaining ears of corn. Place kernels in large bowl; reserve cobs.
• Using coarse side of box grater, grate any milky juices from 3 reserved cobs into medium bowl. Coarsely grate ear of grilled corn, then any milky juices from cob into same medium bowl.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add tasso and sauté until almost crisp, 4 to 5 minutes. Add shallots, poblano chile, celery, thyme, and garlic. Sauté until celery is translucent, about 4 minutes. Add corn kernels; sauté 3 minutes. Add tomatoes with juices and grilled corn with juices. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 8 minutes. Mix in 2 tablespoons butter. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with green onions.